Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about New Era (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for New Era. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
New Era is located in Oceana County.
To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Oceana County: Lake, Mason, Muskegon & Newaygo.
Below are the counties that are near New Era. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to New Era:
- Oceana County (The home county of New Era)
- The following are listed by their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- Shelby
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rothbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ferry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ferry is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
- Camp Claybanks ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Camp Claybanks is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Claybanks
- Hart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mears
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Elbridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elbridge is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Cobmoosa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
- Cobmoosa has also been known as:
- Cob Moo Sa
- Hesperia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- French Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- French Town is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for French Town
- Pentwater
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Walkerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Mason County
- The following are listed by their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- Fern
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Fern is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern
- Fern has also been known as:
- Adamsville
- Meisenheimer Corners
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wiley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wiley is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wiley
- Wiley has also been known as:
- Wileys
- White Pine Village ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- White Pine Village is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Pine Village
- Carr
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Carr is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carr
- Carr has also been known as:
- Carr Settlement
- McCumber Settlement
- Amber
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Amber is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amber
- Amber has also been known as:
- Slaughtburg
- Buttersville ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Buttersville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buttersville
- Custer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Custer is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Custer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 284 people
- Former names for Custer:
- Black Creek
- Ferryville
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Custer <1>
- Ludington
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Scottville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Scottville is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,209 people
- Scottville has also been known as:
- Mason Center
- Sweetland
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scottville <1>
- Walhalla
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Grove
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Sugar Grove is located in Mason County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Grove
- Sugar Grove has also been known as:
- Clark's Corners
- Muskegon County
- The following are listed by their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- Montague
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Whitehall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Lakewood Club
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Lakewood Club is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakewood Club
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,292 people
- Sylvan Beach
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sylvan Beach is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvan Beach
- Wabaningo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Wabaningo is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabaningo
- Holton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Twin Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dalton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dalton is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
- Brunswick
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brunswick is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brunswick
- North Muskegon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Muskegon
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Wolf Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
- Newaygo County
- The following are listed by their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- Huber
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Huber is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huber
- Reeman
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Reeman is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
- Fremont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Fremont is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
- Former name for Fremont:
- Fremont Center
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
- Brookside
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brookside is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
- Sitka
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sitka is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
- Aetna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Aetna is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aetna
- Wooster
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Wooster is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster
- Bishop
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bishop is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
- Bridgeton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
- Woodland Park
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland Park is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Park
- Ramona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Ramona is located in Newaygo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona
- Bitely
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to New Era, see our County-by-County Page for New Era.
Cemeteries Near New Era ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of New Era.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for New Era - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for New Era covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- New Era Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Eagle Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Cranston Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Assumption Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Mennonite Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. John's Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Peace Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- First Shelby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ferry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (124 more) ...
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Otto Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oceana Center Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that New Era had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, New Era had a population of 440 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from New Era, with the one closest to New Era listed first.
- Shelby
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rothbury
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Ferry
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Ferry is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ferry
- Mears
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hart
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Montague
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Whitehall
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Elbridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Elbridge is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elbridge
- Cobmoosa
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cobmoosa is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobmoosa
- Cobmoosa has also been known as:
- Cob Moo Sa
- Pentwater
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hesperia
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Crystal Valley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Crystal Valley is located in Oceana County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Valley
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Twin Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Holton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Dalton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Dalton is located in Muskegon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around New Era. See our List of 1890's Communities around New Era.
Newspapers Published in New Era ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around New Era.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of New Era, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for New Era.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to New Era:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Oceana County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Mason County
- Muskegon County
- Newaygo County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about New Era, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- New Era) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |